Devils smash Cortez for win No. 6

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GYPSUM - The good times keep rolling for Eagle Valley football.

Somewhere among the naming of of the court, the band, the dance team and cheerleaders, the Devils found time to paste Montezuma-Cortez, 53-15, Friday night for Homecoming at Hot Stuff Stadium in Gypsum.

Eagle Valley is 6-1 overall, its highest win total since 2007. The Devils are also 4-1 in the Western Slope.

Cole Nielsen had three scores including a long interception return. Cody Thurston, running in place of the injured Rick Ramunno (broken hand) had two touchdowns. (Ramunno still played on defense.) And Devils defense bottled up the visiting Panthers' passing game until well after matters were decided.

On the third play of the game, Eagle Valley quarterback Jordon Hudspeth fired a 52-yard pass for Ayren Hart for six. After the the Devils' defense made stop on downs. Eagle Valley went 65 yards on 11 plays. Thurston rolled in from 26 yards out.

Cortez came back through the air. Panthers quarterback Zac David hooked up with Ryan Guerney for 35 yards. David then tossed a 5-yard screen to Charles Warren to close it to 14-7.

Thurston and Zeke Sanodval did the damage on Eagle Valley's third scoring drive of the night. Thurston wen 24 yards and Sandoval went for 18. Thurston finished the drive with an 8-yard rumble.

Eagle Valley got the ball on Cortez's 39 with 3:19 left in the first quarter, and continued the track meet. Hudspeth dialed up Sam Boyd for 21 yards and then Nielsen got in on the act with an 18-yard scoring run.

Cortez got a drive going in the second quarter and the Panthers set up for a 32-yard field goal. It was a fake, but the Devils weren't fooled. Nielsen pick the pass and returned it 90 yards for a 40-7 lead.

Nielsen wasn't done. He scored on the Devils' first possession of the second half.

Hart scored the night's second defensive touchdown, scooping up a Panthers' fumble for a score in the third quarter.

Up next for the Devils is rivalry week. Eagle Valley heads to Battle Mountain for the annual Eagle County showdown. The Devils won't need much motivation. Not only are they hoping to keep their chase for the playoffs going, but Battle Mountain has won this game the last three years, including a 54-0 drubbing last season, Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on Friday in Edwards.